Authors: Lori Leger
She’d just finished washing her hands when the door opened and a buxom, dark haired woman walked in the room. Meeting the woman’s gaze in the mirror, Tiffany was rather surprised when the beauty stopped just behind her.
“
So, you’re Red’s latest lay of the day? Join the club,” the woman said with undisguised disgust.
Tiffany turned to face the woman. “Excuse me?”
“
I wish I could tell you that it’s a very exclusive club, but unfortunately it’s not. The membership must be in the hundreds by now.”
Tiffany dried her hands, feeling sick to her stomach as the other woman stepped closer to the mirror and began to touch up her hair.
“
You know he uses that music, don’t you?” the woman said. “He signals the D.J. or the band to play songs to help put you in the mood. Then he makes his move and kisses you, oh so gently, making you feel like you’re the only woman in the room…” adding with an exaggerated sigh, “…or the world.”
Tiffany’s heart sank as the woman gave a soft chuckle and shook her head.
“
Oh yeah, Red McAllister has had years to perfect his irresistible little act, and, trust me,
mon amie
, when I say I’ve seen many women fall to his charm, including
moi…et vous,
and you
…naturellement..
obviously
.
My advice to you is to run like hell, honey. I almost decided to keep my mouth shut about it, but you seem like such a nice lady, and we girls have to stick together,
non
?”
Tiffany watched as the dark haired woman turned and walked out. Her gaze returned to the mirror, watching the shameful red stain begin at the base of her neck and continue on up to her face. Of course Red was a player—the man owned dance clubs. Just like
she
said, he’d had years to perfect his lines because he’d been playing his game for decades. It only took a few minutes for her coloring to return to normal so she could rejoin the group at the table. Her mind was sharp, clear…damned if she would be the one to cower off. Determined to let him know he wasn’t playing with a child, she resumed her place at the table. She’d endured five years of Tanner’s antics and she could damn well put Red McAllister in his place.
Red gave her a bright smile. “Hey, Doc, are you ready for another beer?”
Tiffany gave him a look, one she knew conveyed confidence and self-assuredness. “Make it a Crown and cola—just a splash of cola.”
The request seemed to surprise him a bit, but he called the waitress over and ordered her drink. She felt her brother’s gaze on her, felt his burgeoning curiosity. Drake had always known Crown and Coke was her drink of choice when she was upset. He must have decided now was a good time to prepare for the drive home, because he ordered a bottled water for the next round.
<>
When Red asked Tiffany to dance the next slow song, she smiled politely before taking his hand. He noticed the change in her immediately, the coolness to her demeanor that hadn’t existed before. They made it through the entire song without her uttering a single word to him. She allowed him to pull her a little close at times, but for the most part she kept her distance, keeping her back board-straight and rigid. By the time she finally made eye contact with him, any sign of previous emotion she may have shown for him earlier was nowhere to be found.
Tense with frustration, he wondered what the hell he’d missed that produced the change in her. The prickling sensation at the back of his neck alerted him to what he’d find, and he began to search the room for someone in particular. He couldn’t see her, but he damned well knew she was here somewhere, watching, and totally responsible for this. Resigned to the fact that he couldn’t do anything about it until later, he thought of the clubs hidden security cameras—particularly the one in the hallway outside of the restrooms. The cameras were there to protect both the patrons and the business, but tonight it would solve the mystery for him.
He finally caught sight of her standing on the opposite side of the room and swore under his breath. Damn, he hated to be a hard ass, but that woman had used up her last chance with him. Their gazes clashed briefly and he nodded, acknowledging her presence.
I’ll deal with you later, Angelique.
<>
Tiffany ignored Red’s gaze as she ordered another Crown and Coke. She remained stone still when he leaned forward to speak in her ear.
“
Why don’t you just shoot tequila?” he asked.
She turned to face him, making sure the icy veil covered her face. “Not with you around.”
Red nodded, seeming to accept her answer, also seeming to sense how this night would end.
An hour later, Tiffany finished her fifth Crown and Coke and asked for another. She intercepted Red’s obvious look of disapproval and frowned at his next comment.
“
Don’t you think you’ve had enough, Doc?”
Tiffany pointed at Red, stopping within inches of his face. “Are you my daddy?” she said, hearing the slur in her own voice.
“
No, but if I was…”
“
Then I don’t have to listen to you,” she said, cutting him off. “Besides, Drakes my designated driver, aren’t you, little brother?”
<>
Drake tried to assess the situation, wishing he knew what had soured his sister’s attitude so quickly. “Yeah, but I think Red is right,” Drake told her.
She turned on him, but before she could reply he closed the gap between them. “Look, I don’t know what happened,” he said in a voice only she could hear. “But you may want to get the facts before you tear this guy a new asshole.”
She raised her angry, hurt gaze to meet his. “That’s the problem, Drake, I already got the facts.”
Drake leaned in closer and whispered into her ear. “Now isn’t the time, Tiff. You’re the one who taught me to control my emotion, to own it…so pull it together.”
To her credit, he saw her do exactly that, even in her inebriated state. The veil came down over her face, effectively erasing all signs of hurt or anger. She gave him a tentative smile. “I think I’m ready to go home, how about you?”
Drake nodded, admiring his sister’s gumption. “I am too, we have a long drive and I’m tired.” He stood up and helped her to her feet. “Red...Everyone...it was nice meeting all of you. Tell Annie I’m sorry I missed her. Bailey, tell your husband I think his band is excellent.”
Tiffany turned to the group at the table. “Good night all.” She faced Red, who sat silently, wearing the same tight grim expression he’d worn for the last hour, and nodded before leaving the table without one word to him.
Drake asked for the keys as soon as they exited the club. After fumbling in her purse, she passed them over to him. He could see her struggling to keep her emotions under control. “Hang on, Sis. Wait until we’re in the car.”
As soon as Tiffany buckled herself in the seatbelt, she crumbled.
Drake let her cry for a minute before questioning her. “Okay, what the hell happened in there?”
Between sobs, hiccups and sniffles the story of the bathroom incident unfolded. “He’s just a player, Drake, and I almost let him play me, too.” She wiped her eyes and sniffed loudly. “I thought he was better than that.”
“Maybe he is, and you don’t have all the facts yet.”
She answered groggily, “Maybe he’s not, and I already do.”
“Look, Tiff, it’s understandable that you’d be leery after five years of Tanner, but I’m telling you now, Red is not the least bit like him.”
When he didn’t get an immediate answer from her he looked over, seeing she was already passed out in her seat. He sighed and smiled to himself. In her state of drunken sleepiness, she looked just like she did when she was sixteen years old. “Thank God you quit torturing your hair,” he said, as he touched one of her curls and became flooded by memories. Memories of his protective big sister, punching a bully in the face, the day she got her braces and how he’d made fun of her, the day he got his own braces and how she’d comforted him and told him it was no big deal. She’d always been a better sister than he was a brother, and she deserved to be happy. He couldn’t, for the life of him, understand why his parents treated her like a redheaded stepchild. The thought made him laugh out loud.
“
Redheaded,” he murmured. “Annie ‘Nicole’ McAllister, with your red hair and beautiful blue eyes...if you think I’m letting you off the hook that easily, you are so seriously wrong.” He shook his head and laughed again.
This is the first Christmas in years I’m actually looking forward to.
He looked over at his sister again, thinking that if Red didn’t find a way to get back into her good graces, neither of them would be at his place for Christmas. Tomorrow would be soon enough to call him.
<><><>
Red waited until Tiffany was out of sight before pushing his chair back roughly. He stood, zeroing in on the brunette across the room.
“What the hell just happened, Red?” Bailey asked him.
“
Did you say or do something to hurt her feelings?” Melissa accused.
“I didn’t, but I’m thinking someone else did, and I’m about to deal with her right now,” he said tightly before striding toward Angelique.
She was talking to a man on the other end of the bar when Red walked up behind her. “What the hell did you tell her?”
Angelique turned to him.
“Excuse-moi?”
“
Cut the crap, Angel! You know what I’m talking about. What did you tell her?” he demanded.
“Oh, sweetie I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she gushed. “Did she leave you in a bad way, Red baby?” She rubbed up against him suggestively. “Maybe I can help you out.”
He grabbed her by the elbow and marched her toward the opposite side of the club, then on down the hallway. He stopped in front of the restroom doors and up toward the ceiling. “Do you see that? It’s a camera! Do you understand what I’m saying?”
She rolled her eyes at him until he shook her by the elbow again. “Answer me!”
“
Mais
oui
, yes, I understand!”
“The electronic video files are in my office right now. I’ll see you follow her into the ladies room, won’t I?” He shook her arm. “What did you do to her? Did you threaten her?”
“No!”
“Then what did you tell her?”
She pulled away from him angrily. “You are out of your mind Red! You turned me down for a skinny little thing like that? What is she, some…some kind of model?”
“She’s a surgeon, Angelique.” He saw the stubborn lift of her chin as her green eyes flashed angrily.
“
She is
pas bon
! She is
nothing
compared to me!”
Red stood nose to nose with her. “She is
everything
to me! She is the woman I love and you will never speak to her or go near her again!
Do
you hear me?” he yelled angrily.
Angelique’s eyes grew wide at both his admission and the tone of his voice, but she remained stubbornly silent.
He pulled her out of the hallway, past his shocked family.
“
Red, don’t do this!” She struggled to keep up with him while he kept a firm grip on her wrist.
He stopped in front of the exit and pointed at the door. “Get the hell out of my club and don’t come back.”
She tried to touch his face. “Oh, come on baby, don’t be like this…”
He turned her by the shoulders and opened the door to give her a gentler than she deserved shove through the portal. He pointed a thumb at her while addressing his door man. “Take a good look at her Benji. She’s no longer welcome in this, or
any
of my establishments. I’m holding you personally responsible if she gets by.”
Benji tamped out his cigarette then took out his camera phone to snap a picture of her. “Got it, boss.”
Red nodded and slammed the door in her face before storming back to his table. He addressed his sisters and brother in law, who had obviously watched the entire display in shock. “Sorry, but I need to attend to some business in my office,” he ground out through clenched teeth.
Red walked resolutely into the quiet seclusion of his office, and sat in front of his state of the art workstation with several large screen monitors. He stopped the digital video connected to the hidden camera so that he could watch it replay, starting from approximately one hour earlier. That was about the time Doc’s demeanor toward him had changed from warm to decidedly icy. Just as he suspected, he saw Angelique enter the rest room while Tiffany was still inside. The vindictive Creole beauty came out grinning so big he expected her to break out with a victory dance. He continued watching, and growled when Tiffany walked out a few minutes later looking like ice water ran through her veins.
“
Aw hell, Doc. What did she tell you?” He rubbed his face and sat back, sighing. Hoping for some kind of explanation, he pulled out his cell phone to call her. A deep voice answered on the fifth ring.